GEMS American Academy Abu Dhabi (GAA) is a private, co-educational American international school in Khalifa City A, part of GEMS Education. Founded in 2007, it offers a dual-credential pathway from Pre-KG to Grade 12 (ages 3-18): the US curriculum (Common Core and AERO Plus standards) with the IB Primary Years Programme in the early grades, leading to a US High School Diploma alongside the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement (AP) in Grades 11-12. Home to around 1,846 students from 90+ nationalities — about 57% Emirati — and accredited by CIS and NEASC, it is rated Very Good by ADEK, with Kindergarten teaching rated Outstanding in the 2024-25 inspection. Its 2025 IB Diploma cohort averaged about 32 points. The campus is unusually well resourced, with an on-site planetarium, a ~500-seat auditorium, a black box theatre, two swimming pools (including a 25m competition pool) and a recording studio.
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Pre-KG – Grade 12
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2007
Fees for 2025/2026, per year group. Excludes registration, uniform, and transport.
Official 2025/26 fees (GEMS Education). Tuition includes loaned textbooks and Elementary materials, but excludes uniform, lunches, transport (fee-for-service) and Grade 11-12 AP/IB exam fees.
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ADEK 2024–2025 inspection
IB Primary Years Programme early years — rated Outstanding for teaching by ADEK in 2024-25.
IB PYP delivered with US Common Core standards, with NWEA MAP benchmarking from Grade 2.
AERO Common Core Plus standards with subject specialists and STEM.
The US High School Diploma with the IB Diploma Programme and Advanced Placement (AP) in Grades 11-12. 2025 IB Diploma average ~32 points.
Complete the online registration form and pay the registration fee.
Applicants sit an age-appropriate assessment where required.
Meet the admissions team and tour the campus.
Accept the offer and pay the deposit to secure the place.
Reach the admissions team directly to book a visit or ask about places.
Interim Superintendent
Interim Superintendent / Acting Head of School (2025-26).
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Khalifa City A, Abu Dhabi, UAE
